Exterior Stemwall Cracks, Skewed Doorframe, and Interior Wall Cracks

Exterior Stemwall Cracks, Skewed Doorframe, and Interior Wall Cracks

Haag was asked to inspect a residence with cracks in the exterior stemwall, interior walls, and ceiling. The house was wood-framed, built in 1940, and had a combination stemwall and pier and beam foundation. It was located in the Tampa Bay area, where sinkholes are common. Haag performed a structural inspection, floor elevation survey, ground penetrating radar survey, foundation excavation and inspection, soil borings, and laboratory testing. Our investigation revealed that the damage was not caused by a sinkhole, but rather was due to a layer of buried peat as much as 11 feet thick. Peat is highly compressible and will continue to compress over time as the organic material continues to decay. Haag recommended underpinning the home's foundation.